On Wednesday evening (the 13th) 6 intrepid singers entered the private Grafton shopping centre to sing some alternative versions of Christmas carols, pointing out some of the downsides of the rampant consumerism that happens at this time. After singing a few carols the singers started to hand out leaflets aswell, at which point they were asked to leave. While doing a farewell song the guard tried to take the song sheets out of peoples hands, but no serious trouble ensued.
Carol singers in action
Here are some sample carols
Consumer Wonderland
(To the tune of Winter Wonderland)
The TV's on / are you watching?
Another product / that they're hawking
one more thing you need
to make life complete
Welcome to Consumer Wonderland
In the stores / you will hear it
"Pricey gifts / show holiday spirit"
That's what they call it
to get to your wallet
Welcome to Consumer Wonderland
At the mall we can go out shopping
and buy lots of stuff we can't afford
we'll have lots of fun with our new toys
until we realize that we're still bored
When you shop / ain't it thrilling
until / you get the billing
the money you still owe the stuff broke long ago
Welcome to Consumer Wonderland
*Uh Oh We're In The Red, Dear*
(To the tune of Rudolph the red-nose reindeer)
Uh oh we're in the red, dear
On our credit card it shows
Christmas is almost over
But the debit line still grows
Shopping like Santa's zombies
Sent our budget down in flames
But all our Christmas spirit
Helped the giant retail chains
I'm so foggy Christmas Eve
Wondering how we'll pay
Christmas doesn't seem so bright
When our finances are tight
So here's a plan for next year
Let's forget the shopping spree
Let's give a gift of love, so
All our Christmas gifts are free
*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen*
Slow down ye frantic shoppers for there's something we must say
If you would spare a moment all the stores would go away
Big business has been telling us what Christmas means today
Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves
Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.
To some folks Christmas means a time for gathering with friends
And enemies might take it as a time to make amends
But TV says it's time for pricey gifts and selfish ends
Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves
Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.
Some people feel that Christmas is when Jesus makes a call
For others it's a time to stress good will and peace to all
But advertisers tell us it means Santa's at the mall
Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves
Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.
*Jingle All The Way*
Chorus:
Profits here, profits there,
profits everywhere
Christmas time is funny
we smell money in the air
Advertise, glamorize,
fool you with a flair.
Let's make sure that Christmas
is a businesslike affair.
You're eating up our lies and dashing to the stores
Then all our prices rise and how the money pours
If we don't keep you drugged and watching your TV
You might see the hypocrisy
then where would business be?
Chorus
We'll tell you how to think and tell you what to try
What to eat and drink and how to live and die
And if our plan succeeds, when Christmas-time is nigh
Instead of seeking love and peace you'll hunt for gifts to buy
Chorus
More can be found at these links
Lyrics for carols
http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/resources/carols.html
The Rev Billy ha long been doing anti consumerist stuff
http://www.revbilly.com/
Ideas from buy nothing day
http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/
Buy nothing xmas (by adbusters)
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/xmas.php
including the carol sheet (pdf)
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/downloads/xmas/carols.pdf
Consumer Wonderland
(To the tune of Winter Wonderland)
The TV's on / are you watching?
Another product / that they're hawking
one more thing you need
to make life complete
Welcome to Consumer Wonderland
In the stores / you will hear it
"Pricey gifts / show holiday spirit"
That's what they call it
to get to your wallet
Welcome to Consumer Wonderland
At the mall we can go out shopping
and buy lots of stuff we can't afford
we'll have lots of fun with our new toys
until we realize that we're still bored
When you shop / ain't it thrilling
until / you get the billing
the money you still owe the stuff broke long ago
Welcome to Consumer Wonderland
*Uh Oh We're In The Red, Dear*
(To the tune of Rudolph the red-nose reindeer)
Uh oh we're in the red, dear
On our credit card it shows
Christmas is almost over
But the debit line still grows
Shopping like Santa's zombies
Sent our budget down in flames
But all our Christmas spirit
Helped the giant retail chains
I'm so foggy Christmas Eve
Wondering how we'll pay
Christmas doesn't seem so bright
When our finances are tight
So here's a plan for next year
Let's forget the shopping spree
Let's give a gift of love, so
All our Christmas gifts are free
*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen*
Slow down ye frantic shoppers for there's something we must say
If you would spare a moment all the stores would go away
Big business has been telling us what Christmas means today
Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves
Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.
To some folks Christmas means a time for gathering with friends
And enemies might take it as a time to make amends
But TV says it's time for pricey gifts and selfish ends
Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves
Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.
Some people feel that Christmas is when Jesus makes a call
For others it's a time to stress good will and peace to all
But advertisers tell us it means Santa's at the mall
Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves
Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.
*Jingle All The Way*
Chorus:
Profits here, profits there,
profits everywhere
Christmas time is funny
we smell money in the air
Advertise, glamorize,
fool you with a flair.
Let's make sure that Christmas
is a businesslike affair.
You're eating up our lies and dashing to the stores
Then all our prices rise and how the money pours
If we don't keep you drugged and watching your TV
You might see the hypocrisy
then where would business be?
Chorus
We'll tell you how to think and tell you what to try
What to eat and drink and how to live and die
And if our plan succeeds, when Christmas-time is nigh
Instead of seeking love and peace you'll hunt for gifts to buy
Chorus
More can be found at these links
Lyrics for carols
http://www.buynothingchristmas.org/resources/carols.html The Rev Billy ha long been doing anti consumerist stuff
http://www.revbilly.com/ Ideas from buy nothing day
http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/ Buy nothing xmas (by adbusters)
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/xmas.php including the carol sheet (pdf)
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/downloads/xmas/carols.pdf